The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-18
ADEFENsE OF CUSTER.
Major Reno's Charge of Cowardice Answered
by Stubborn Facts.

Major Reno's Charge of Cowardice Answered
by Stubborn Facts.
New York Press
The attack Of Major Reno on the memory OF
Gen. George A Custer. who died with DIS "noie
command in that bloody June battle on the Dig
Horn river. in 1876. is meeting on all sioes Win
most deserved condemnation To accuse Custer
of cowardice is evidence IN itself tnat the &c
cuser was a skulker who was ever TOO iar IN tne
rear to the conduct of the youthful cavalry
commander at the front the entire Union
army in Virginia bore evidence 20 Custers
bravery, and the enemy always acknowledged
his dash and intrepi6ity. colonel at nine,
teen a brigsdier at twenty. aud a maJor-generaI
before he had reached his majority such were
the rewards conferred Custer in the latter
DAVIS of the war; when jealous people demand
ed that honors should be bestowed on merit AID
not ciyen "a favors No one disputed his right
to possess them then. Every bulletin from the
valley of the Shenandoah bore his name, ana
every paper proclaimed his fame
At Shepardstown. while IN command OF MS
Michigan Regiment the enemy attempted MS
eapture and had attacked him on three sides.
the Shenandoah river being in his rear lie
was to be seen dashing everywhere along MS
line figure flexible and slight as to appear
almost girlish his long. yellow hair streaming
to his shoulders. and always the directlne spirit
of the battle. The enemy pressed the regiment
back to the very brink of the river, wnich was
nm raging and uufordable. The siuice ana
waste gates of the mildam were opened or
broken away. and while Custer remained with
the rear contesting the way the main comm
passed over the slippery way and through the
raging waters Maryland. This retreat was
considered at the time one of the most brilliant
incidents of the war, and brought both the
fighting qualities and military resources OIL Ous-
ter before the public.
Those who witnessed the final charge ae WIN
chester on the evening of Sept l9, 1864. aud saw
the cavalry under Custer strike the left nariS OF
Earlys army and double il back into the sixth,
Eighth and Nineteenth corps, by whom 1t was
received and sent ''whirling up the valley VIII
never doubt but the yellow-haired boy VINO LED
the charge and carried his headquarters flag In
his own hand, not only had the courage neht,
but knew how, when and where to strike de-
cisive blow.
1t was on the 9th Of October, 1864, that Custer
arrived at Bridgewater, Va. to take command
of the Third Cavalry Division division, lt
may be added, that had, to a great extent, oeen
demoralzed by wretched handling. For months
it had never gone into action but to be defeated
with heavy loss of men. and often with the
sacrifice of Its artillery and baggage trains Inc
men were sullen, discontinued and insubordi-
nate and it's officers either incompetent,
negligent. tyranicaL Custer arrived
in the morning and rode through the camps,
where his boyish appearance excited more rldl-
Guile than admiration. At B o'clock the Ihiro
New Jersey Cavalry, the Butterflies" picketing
the opposite side of tine river, was attacked ana
driven in AS soor as the first shots were heard
and horses eaddled. to the surprise OF the men,
instead of retreat, forward movement was
ordered, and with Custer in advance or the ilne
a charge was N ado which sent the enemy flying
pell NELL over the river, and, being cut on from
the bridge, many who hesitated TO swim their
horses were captured. new soul had been put
into the division and every man knew it was the
spirit of Custer. From that day to the close OF
the war the Third Division never knew what de-
feat m can't but it captured almost every battle
flag that was ever Haunted in its front and near
ly every piece of artillery that was opened on it.
If the Michigan brigade loved Custer the
Third Cavalry Division worshipped him. Inc
reason for it was,that be never ordered his men
to go where he would not lead, and place
could not be found so hot but hs would enter
and they would follow.
From that day TO the close of tho there
was not an engagement in the Shenandoah il
which Custer did not make a record with the
Third Division for bravery, dash and discrimi-
nation. At Cedar Creek it was Custer who In
terposed his division between the advancing
enemy and the retreatng Union infantry, when
the Eighth and Nineteenth corps came back
routed, and the Ninth Corps, the foot cavalry
of Sheridan's command. fell back reeiing aud
fighting over every acre OF ground to the Stone
walls to the north of Newtown. Two hundred
or 800 yards in front Of that wall the Third
Division formed and prepared to charge the Coz
federate battery stationed In the orchard anu
graveyard q mile in front 1t was Custer VINO
met Sheridan the pike at the extreme front
when he arrived from Winchester, and he led
the Third Division at the close of the day when
il charg ed into the road leading up slshers Hill
and captured wagon trains, prisoners, arms, ar
tillery. and the scores of battle flags he after
ward was delegated to convey to Washington
He covered the return up the Valley when 1t
devastated by fire. and finally defeated
Rosser and captured all his baggage. artillery
and battie-fags at Toms Brook, in the valley
Just south of Strausburg, and closed the war IN
the Upper Shenandoah.
In the following spring it was Custer and his
division which led the advance down the valley,
struck Early for the last time at Waynesbor-
ough, captured his entire force. and the next
day received the surrender of Charlottesville
and graduated the Third Division on horseback
through the University of Virginia. He led
the retrograde movement from the Potomac at
Scottsville to White House landing, was the
first to reach Grants lines in front of Peters
burg, and carried his headquarters flag again IN
person the front at the charge on the evening
of March 81 at Dinwiddie Courthonse. He was
one of the first inside of the works at Five
Forks, where his aid, Capt A c. Douehton,
lost his right in hauling down the rebel
flag at Clusters side Custer led the advance IN
the pursuit of Lee captured the last of Picketts
Division AZ Sailors Creek and dashed into APP
potomax Station at the head of his command
three four hours after the head of his com
mand reached it, where he destroyed by fire the
depots filed with army stores and munitions OF
war. and also the heavy trains which were on
the track, q disaster to the Confederacy which
forced Lees surrender at Appotomax Court
house.
In conclusion it can be said Custer was al
ways in view of those who had their eyes turned
to the front, and if Major Reno failed 10 see
him he must have faced the other way.